Comments | fandom_grammar: Answer: Attribution Verbs in Dialogue

traycer_ in fandom_grammar

Answer: Attribution Verbs in Dialogue

Jun 15, 2009 13:18

alethiaxx asks: What is acceptable/unacceptable in terms of attribution verbs in dialogue? ("spoke", "spat", "laughed", "questioned")

With examples from Stargate SG-1:

( He said/she said versus he growled/she snarled )

dialogue, author:traycer_, !answer, dialogue:tags

Comments 11

sg_betty June 15 2009, 21:13:06 UTC

Yes!! :)
And that's all I'm, going to say about that... ;)

traycer_ June 16 2009, 05:09:19 UTC

Hee! And you said it so eloquently! :)

lmichelle599 June 15 2009, 22:26:09 UTC

Thanks! That's good advice for fic writing.

traycer_ June 16 2009, 21:11:41 UTC

Glad to help! :)

alethiaxx June 15 2009, 23:51:58 UTC

Thanks for answering! I think your guidelines will be very helpful.

traycer_ June 16 2009, 20:44:42 UTC

You're welcome! I'm glad this will help. :)

cesy June 16 2009, 10:14:17 UTC

Said isn't invisible for everyone, though - use it too often and it will really grate for some readers, though others don't notice it.

traycer_ June 16 2009, 20:52:16 UTC

You are so right on this. I see the word each and every time when it's used excessively, especially when it's only dialogue.

Which is probably why I cringe every time I read one of my older stories because of the constant use of said or a multitude of other attributes. :) I'll have to fix those things one of these days.

horusguard76 June 16 2009, 17:47:02 UTC

This is very helpful. Thank you so much.

traycer_ June 16 2009, 20:53:56 UTC

You're welcome!

And by the way. Much love for your icon!! :D